After reading through Unit 1 readings for our Facilitating in Digital Environments course, I have the following reflections:
3 Thoughts
*Digital facilitation is complex. There are so many aspects to think about, including creating community, providing relevant materials, and being present (Boettcher, n.d.). Ensuring these and other criteria are being met will take patience and practice.
*There are many roles as a digital facilitator. After reading Bull’s (2013) article, I realized that teaching online isn’t simply providing materials and guiding students through; it’s about providing encouragement, support, and connections. In this sense, I can see the similarity of digital teachers to classroom teachers, as the aforementioned roles are also a part of classroom teaching.
*Feedback is integral for effective digital learning–for both students and educators. Without feedback from students, how will educators know if their course is effective? Boettcher (n.d.) states the feedback early on can allow for any adaptations to be made to the course. As for students, consistent, clear feedback during the course allows students to adapt and reach out for support if needed (Bull, 2013).
2 Questions
*Boettcher (n.d.) states the importance of providing relevant materials for students; how does a facilitator provide relevancy when information about their students is relatively unknown?
*Boettcher (n.d.) also states the importance of feedback, yet I am unsure of how many students take advantage of providing feedback for teachers; how does an educator encourage and promote student feedback? Can marks be used to encourage feedback, or will this skew results?
1 Simile
Digital teaching is like a one-man band, ensuring all instruments are contributing their unique sounds and together producing a harmonious melody.
One Man Band [photograph], by William W. Ward, 2014, Flickr. CC BY 4.0
References
Boettcher, J. V. (n.d.). Ten best practices for teaching online [Designing for Learning]. http://designingforlearning.info/writing/ten-best-practices-for-teaching-online/
Bull, B., & . (2013, June 3). Eight roles of an effective online teacher. Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/eight-roles-of-an-effective-online-teacher/